Furniture-clamp



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(N Model.)

J. BBNEDIGT. FURNITURE CLAMP.

IPaented May 6, 1890.

@51j 'Hozmm mouw 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (N0 Model.)

` J. BENBDIGT.

FURNITURE GLAMP- Patented May 6, 1890.

UNrrn Brarns Barnier @erica JACOB BENEDICT, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

FU RNITU RE-CLAVE P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,035, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed March 12, 1888. Serial No. 261.04% (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

for use in furniture-factories in setting up articles of furniture and for other similar uses; and its object is to provide in cheap and simple form a clamp adapted tol and of sufficient power for suoli purposes. This object I accomplish by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis an elevation of that form of the device used as a bed-clamp. Fig. 2 is a section of the same on line :r a: of Fig. I. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of another form of the machine, used for clamping irregular forms. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3. Fig 5 is a perspective view of the plate or frame which is a part of Figs. 3 and 4f. Fig. G is a detailed view of the hook used in Figs. 3 and 4; and Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the sliding plate and arm, showing t-heball-andsocket joint.I

In the drawings, A A of Fig. l (the bedclamp) show the upper and lower rails of the main frame firmly fastened together by the vertical cross-pieces at the ends B B. A second vertical cross-bar B2 is placed a short distance from the one at the end and parallel thereto. The two are iirmly fastened together and to the frame by thebraces L L. These last two vertical bars B B2 are duplicated on the other side of the top and bottom rail; and between the pair at the end and of the same thickness as the rails A is the beam C, rigidly held in its position between the adjacent bars B by bolts and strengthened by the tierod M. A corresponding beam C is fitted between the two bars B2, but loosely, so as to slide backward and forward therein,

Yand when in use operates as a follower. To-

ward the other side of the frame is placed the pair of vertical bars B, sliding upon the top and bottom rails and carrying bolted betweentliem the trussed beam C with tie-rod M.. These bars are supported by the carriage F with wheels G. Back of barB upon the upper and lower rails, are sliding blocks II I-I, withbolts I passing through the blocks and through holes II in the rails. Set-screws J J are inserted through blocks II and bear against the back of the adjacent beam C.

E is a stop, being a vertical bar enlarged at its lower end and vertically adjustable by means of the bolt or' set-screw V, passing through a longitudinal slot.

I) D are projecting supports attached tol the rear one of each of the two pairs of vertical bars B B is also asupport for the back of the article to be clamped, being an upright bar extending from the top to` the bottom rails and sliding thereon with them These and below, is double, extending each way from the lever, and the lever U and block S thus make a double bent lever. At each end of S is pivoted a short arm R, which at its other end is pivoted to rod I)A In this= manner the lever U operates the toggle-joint formed by S R, and that in turn operates through .the rod P all the other toggle-joints O N, N O and the follower C. rlhe block S is pivoted to a portion of the main frame, and this is strengthened by the brace T.

In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 3 to 7, A A are the side rails, resting upon a suitable supporting trame-work. The back piece B connects these two rails near their farther end and slides upon the rails longitudinally as ways, being held at any desired point by bolts. I in holes K', and being held down upon the rails by the bolt and nut J. An additional adjustment may be used, if desired, to take up the space between the holes. The supporting frame-work also carries, at about the same height as the rails and firmly attached to the frame, the bed-piece B", and to this is bolted the plate 3, which I construct of cast-iron in the form shown in detail in Fig. 5. Upon one side is cast a iiange,

ICO

which at 6 is broken away and replaced bya ratchet (shown in Fig. and at 7 7 is enlarged into blocks having concave bearings for the convex lower surface of the ends of arms N', making therewith a socket-hinge. Opposite these blocks and upon the face of the plate are flanges 44, which serve as guides for the sliding blocks l l. These have in their upper faces concave sockets 8 S, with the slots 9 Q in the surface of the plate between the sockets and the edge, as shown in detail in Fig. 7. The end of the adjacent arm N is enlarged into the semi-spherical form shown by 7 in Fig. 7. This its into the socket S, making a joint or hinge, which permits free lateral motion, arm N having suiicient play in slot 9.

The lever U is pivoted at a short distance from its end to the plate 3, and arms R R are pivoted to the lever at short distances above and below the point of attachment to the plate. These rods R R are at their other extremities suitably hinged or pivoted to the short arms N N,so that the lever and rods R form toggle-joints operated by the lever, and they through rods R operate the toggle-joints N N. It is evident that when the device is in the position shown by Fig. 5, depressing the lever will force sliding blocks l l along between ways 4 4 toward the rear edge of the plate.

2 in Fig. 6 is a hook, the straight end of which is pivoted to block l, as shown in Fig. 3, and which extends back over arms N N', and is bent up over the edge of bar C, as shown in Fig. 4. rlhis hook, held down by the weight above it, when in use keeps arm N and ball 7 in socket Sand prevents any unsteadiness of motion at that point.

C is a transverse bar or beam sliding upon rails A A and acting as a follower, actuated through hooks 2. For adjusting the clamps to irregular forms slots 5 5 are cut in this follower, and threaded bolts, with hand-wheels J J inserted. These bolts screw through nuts inside the follower, and the ends of the bolts bear against the work to be clamped, or suitable blocks may be interposed, as shown, at the ends of the bolts in Fig.

The operation of my invention, in the form used as abed-clamp, is as follows: The headboard, for example, is placed upon bottom rail A, between B and B2. The lever is raised, so as to flex the elbow-joints and withdraw the follower. The head-board is then adjusted to the follower and the back piece B O D adjusted to the other side of the head-board and held by bolts I. A closer adjustment can be had by using the set-screws J. The stop E is then brought down upon the upper corner and held there by bolt V. This stop prevents any upward movement, and the back supports I) D B hold the work from springing backward. A depression of the lever will then extend all the elbow-joints and force the follower against thehead-board with very great power.

For smaller articles the other form is sometimes preferable.` In this the article to be clamped a chair-back, for eXample-lies horizontally upon the rails A. The back-piece 13 is adj usted, and screws J J are adj usted against various parts of the back, if it is of irregular form. A similar adjustment may be had upon the other side, if desired. If the form is regular, these screws J J will not be used, or will all be adjusted to the same distance. The use of several slots permits these screws to be vertically adj usted. When the lever is lowered, the follower will be moved forward by the hooks in the mannerabove described and the chair-back firmly clamped. The ratchet G will hold the lever in any de sired position.

The sockethinge shown in Fig. 7 I iind to be very useful in this device, for the reason that the block is moved by a slight motion of the arm, and the joint does not become loose by use under heavy pressure, as au ordinary pivot is liable to do.

rlhe two forms of clamps above shown are suitable for many purposes, and obvious modifications will adapt them to most if not all of the uses desired in furniture or similar factories, as well as to the manufacture of doors or similar articles. Many such modifications will suggest themselves to any mechanic; and I do not desire to limit myself to the precise form or construction shown; but

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a furniture-clamp, the main frame, the follower and its actuating elbow joints and lever, in combination with the back piece for holding the work against the pressure of the follower, such back piece adj ustablc with* in the frame to and from the follower, substantially as described.

2. In a furniture-clamp, the main frame, the follower and its operating elbow joints and lever, in combination with the back piece for holding the work against the pressure of the follower, such back piece sliding on the rails of the frame, the bolts and holes for adj usting and holding the back piece, and the set-screws for taking up the space between the holes, substantially as described.

3. In afurniture-clamp, the combination of the main frame, the back piece, the follower and its actuating-lever and elbow-joints, with the back support B and its guides w fw, whereby it can be adjusted to the proper place to prevent the work from springing backward, substantially as described.

4. In a furniture-clamp, the combination of the main frame, the back piece, the follower and its actuating-lever and elbow-joints, with the stop E, vertically adjustable for preventing the work from springing upward, substantially as described.

5. In a clamp for furniture and similar artioles, and in combination with the main frame, the back piece and the follower, the plate 3, with ways or guides on its face, blocks IIO sliding therein connected to and operating the follower, the elbow-joints actuating the sliding blocks, and the lever pivoted to the plate and operating the elbow-joints, substantially as described.

6. In a clamping-machine for furniture and similar articles, the main frame, the back piece and the follower, in combination with plate 3, with Ways or guides on its face, blocks sliding therein connected to and operating the follower, the elbow-joints actuating the sliding blocks, the lever pivoted to the plate and operating the elbow-joints, 'and the ratchet for holding the lever in clamping position, substantially as described.

7. In a clamp of the class described, the main frame and the back piece, the lever, the elbow-joints operated by the lever, the follower, and hooks connected at one end to the end of the arm of the elbow-joint and at the other end bent up around the follower to force it into contact with the work, substantially as described.

8. In a clamp of the class described, the main frame, the back piece, the follower, and the lever, in combination with the elbowjoint operated by the lever and the sliding block and ways therefor, said block having a concave recess, and the end of the adjacent arin having a convex surface bearing therein, making a socket-hinge, and said block connected to and'actuating the follower, all substantially as described.

9. In a clamping-machine of the class described, themain frame, back piece, follower and its actuating-.lever and elbow-joints, in

combination with the slots in the follower,r 

